🔗 Share this article

Cairo and Doha are currently engaged in efforts to persuade Hamas to agree to Donald Trump's proposal to halt the hostilities in the Gaza Strip, according to Egypt's top diplomat.

Mounting Pressure on Hamas

Egypt's foreign minister emphasized that the time had come for Hamas to disarm and refrain from offering Israeli forces any pretext to persist in its offensive in Gaza, where numerous civilians were lost their lives on Friday.

“Hamas should not be used as an excuse for the relentless killing of innocents, a situation that has worsened significantly since last year,” the minister stated.

He added that Cairo is “in close contact with Qatar and Turkey to persuade Hamas to agree to the terms”.

Key Points of the Trump Proposal

The plan would require Hamas to:

• Lay down its arms and withdraw from political activities
• Release the captives in custody from the previous year's events, 20 of whom are presumed to be still alive

As part of the deal, Israel would:

• Pull back its military from Gaza
• Be replaced by an international force
• Accept a interim administration led by the former president

Observers concur that the proposal would spell an end to Hamas’s identity as an armed Palestinian resistance group, while Israel would give little ground.

Split Opinions within Hamas

The organization is divided over how to respond, with some members asking for a delay to evaluate the proposal.

A senior commander has resisted the plan, seeing it as a move to eradicate Hamas regardless of they accept.

Those familiar with the matter indicate that Hamas is expected to request changes regarding:

• The requirement to lay down arms
• Remaining troops of soldiers in the area
• Safeguards that the top officials will not be targeted

Civilian Suffering Deteriorates

Israel carried on its operations in the northern area and airstrikes across the region on Friday, fatally striking numerous civilians.

Nearly a dozen of the casualties were in Gaza City, while the others perished in southern Gaza, including three in an aerial attack in a southern area, which had been once declared a safe zone.

Israel issued its ultimate directive for the city on earlier this week, with the defence minister declaring that those who stay would be considered a terrorist or terrorist supporter, a label that contradicts international law.

A vast number of people remain unable to leave in the city, many of whom who lack the means for the journey to southern Gaza, which reportedly costs over a thousand dollars.

“Countless individuals are forced to sleep outdoors while seeking refuge,” stated an aid official.

United Nations agencies reported that there is nowhere secure for evacuees from the city, as zones designated as “safe zones” in southern Gaza are “places of death”.

A UN official called the idea of secure areas as “farcical”, noting that airstrikes are used with alarming regularity and schools serving as safe havens are frequently demolished.

Medical Services under Overwhelming Demand

Medical facilities in the south are operating beyond capacity, with the Red Cross field hospital treating over twice its intended capacity.

Earlier, one of the last functioning hospitals received 27 bodies of people fatally wounded by the forces.

A senior doctor described the situation as “very hard”.

Israeli forces has been reported as targeting healthcare facilities and staff, with medical staff said to be “abducted” while traveling to work in the area.

Authorities has often stated that apprehended doctors had connections to Hamas, though offering no substantiation.

Total casualties from Israel’s war in the strip has reached over 62,000 Palestinians killed and about 170,000 wounded, as reported by the local health officials.